Wednesday, April 4, 2012

*I Cook Barefooted!* ~ White Chocolate Fruit Tart





Barefoot Love!





 Can you feel it?
*Give me an... H*

Kids gettin' restless.
*Give me an... E*

All hopped up on sunshine and daisy chains.
*Give me an... L*

That look in their eyes,
spring in their step,
your money in their back pocket.

Visions of...
summer camp, roller coasters, and swimmin' holes.
*Give me a... P*


*What does that spell?*
SUMMER VACATION!

Yep.
It's right around the corner.
Are YOU ready?
***

The days of hectic class field trips to the zoo, 
followed by picnics in the park
and mom caravans trailing behind school buses 
filled with noisy kids smelling of goat,
have passed for our family.

Our school year's end
is no longer filled with last minute 
homemade Teacher gifts, 
Teacher appreciation snack days
and Teacher hugs.


Once our kids were unleashed 
onto Junior High
children's laughter gaily filtering through the halls
turned a corner somehow, to a raucous 
Game of Thrones;
complete with feuding 'clicks' in the pursuit of power,
tales of frayed loyalties
and general teen-angst carnage.


So, teary-eyed, I find myself this year
bearing no offerings of
White Chocolate Fruit Tarts
for our grade school teachers; 
no glowing faces to greet me in the doorway 
of my child's *other* life; 
no opportunity to simply say, Thank You,
to those people who have helped raise our children.


It's sad leaving their childhood behind. I know.
But standing here now on the other side of that fence...
that cute little play-yard fence...
I can honestly say, watching them as they
learn from their mistakes and grow in their triumphs
 can be just as rewarding now,
in these rascally years
(yep, I said rascally), 
if not more so.



The way I see it,
it's a good thing I shared some Tart Love.

Happy Teachers
make 
Happy Students
make
Happy Parents
make 
Happier Children.


***



Barefoot Love!


White Chocolate Fruit Tart
 
¾ cup butter, softened
½ cup confectioner’s sugar
1 ½  cups flour
1 10 oz. pkg. vanilla baking chips, melted
¼ cup whipping cream
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 20 oz. can pineapple chunks, undrained
1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
1 11 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained
2 kiwi, peeled and sliced
3 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. cornstarch
½ tsp. lemon juice
Reserved pineapple juice


***
Cream butter and sugar.
Gradually add flour; mix well.
Press into ungreased 11 inch tart pan or a 12 inch cookie sheet with sides.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or till lightly browned.
Cool. 
Beat chips and whipping cream.,
Add cream cheese and beat till smooth.
Spread over entire crust.
Chill 30 minutes.


Arrange fruit over filling (reserving pineapple juice).


In saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, lemon and pineapple juice.
Boil over medium heat for two minutes or till thickened.
Stir constantly.
Cool.
Brush over top of fruit.
Chill 1 hour.
Store in fridge till ready to eat!


You want reviews?
How 'bout...
“And YOU my dear, get an A!”

 

How 'bout You?
Have a recipe you want to share on 
*I Cook Barefooted!*?
Show some Barefoot Love and...
Send it here:  scarlettcolleen@yahoo.com 
Want to include a photo? Fun!


What's on your table?






“Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions.
All life is an experiment.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 *Barefoot Love*Airbrush By, Colleen 
2012


23 comments:

  1. Oh I know that heartbreaking turn. *sniff* But you're right, there is beauty in this "rascally" stage too.
    Catherine Denton

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catherine!

      It's so good to have you back from your trip!

      We're almost a full school year out of grade school now. Our youngest is ending his 7th grade year soon. So many things changed the moment all three of our kids were no longer a part of that school family! I, like my kids, frequented those hallways on a daily basis, and am missing our beloved teachers there, possibly more than our kids do.

      But their growth since has been amazing! I am so proud of them all, and have learned an important lesson of my own in the process. The teen years do not have to be all Doom and Gloom, as many will warn.

      We entered into them with the same expectations that we've always had of our kids, and they haven't disappointed. Not because they haven't made mistakes along the way, but because we've worked on them as a family and grown from them. Life is hard. The teenage years are simply the spice! *wink*

      Delete
  2. I think I gained two pounds just from reading the tart recipe. But my daughter's birthday is next week, and it might be the perfect "cake" for her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know. I know. *g*

      All that cream cheese, and butter, and sugar! CAKE is a good word for it. I imagine one could reduce the fat content by maybe substituting the buttery/sugary crust with say, crescent rolls? Perhaps with a little bit of raw sugar sprinkled on top? I LOVE raw sugar!

      Great for a birthday! It's so colorful and pretty! I like to set my fruit in a spiral design on a round cookie sheet.

      And you could use Neufchatel Cheese, which is just cream cheese with 1/3 less fat.

      Delete
  3. What a lovely post Scarlett. It reminds me to slow down and savor both these elementary school years and things like white chocolate tarts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Johanna.

      And yes, do slow down. Easy for ME to say, now that ours have moved on. *g*

      I don't have too many regrets. I appreciated what we had while we had it, I feel. It just seemed like a natural progression. And of course, after our first child moved on, the second and third were so much easier. Though I did feel a bit melancholy when we said good-bye for good. But that's natural to grieve a bit over the loss. Makes it easier when I remember all that we gained with that experience.

      White Chocolate ~ mmmmmm.

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Send pictures. STOP
      Will post. STOP
      How's things? STOP DON'T STOP

      Delete
  5. Oh, Scarlett, Scarlett, Scarlett! White chocolate, cream cheese, whipping cream, butter, AND fruit??? Holy moly. Yum. I am so there! What's even bestest of all? It sounds pretty easy and quick to make! Bestest best? Pretty, too.

    I didn't get a chance to make your Devilish Eggs over the weekend, but I will and I think I just might need to make this tart, too. Yay!

    It's a good and important thing to appreciate all the different stages of your children's growth, including those teen years. My son is grown and out on his own now and I do get wistful for those years. At the same time, I'm so proud of him now, to see how far he's come and know that he's a good man and a good person. I had a little part in that and that makes my heart swell.

    Thanks, Scarlett xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess I should start posting pics with these recipes, huh? *But... it's soooo much w-o-r-k, she whines!*

      It is a really pretty dish before people dig in. Colorful and Tasty! I just realized I didn't add the Kiwi to the recipe. GOTTA HAVE THE KIWI! Will fix that now.

      So, you have homework now. Devilish Eggs and Fruit Tart. It'll make a yummy lunch. I think I'll make them both this weekend for our family get-togethers!

      Let our hearts swell together, IK. I feel the same about ours.

      Love!

      Delete
    2. Ok. So I didn't forget the kiwi. I'm hungry. Time to eat. *g*

      Delete
  6. Thought I'd drop you a comment and let you know that I wrote another velociraptor post I thought you might enjoy. ;)

    Also, white chocolate fruit tart sounds delicious. :D

    -The Dandy Lioness

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I stopped in your place, Miss Dandy Lioness!

      Love the new look!

      I'm thinking you may want to keep a trusty little can of pepper spray (or magic eraser) on your person. Those velociraptors can be testy!

      Delete
  7. My oldest is getting ready to graduate...stiff upper lip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Elizabeth!

      That's right! You and I both have seniors this year! My lip quivers occasionally, too. I'm doing my very best to bite it back when he's around.

      Love! and ((hugs))

      Delete
  8. Thanks for your post...loved it! I have one going into second grade, one going into his first year of Middle School and one starting his freshman year in High School. They are all so different and I love them each for themselves. It has been so interesting to watch my eldest grow and develop, to watch him begin thinking about abstract ideas, develop his own opinions and challenge his Mom, myself and/or his Dad. My middle step-son is beginning that process and it is exciting to see, while my youngest is still a cuddle bug, with big chocolate eyes that cause anyone to question their ability to say "no" Thanks Scarlet! I'll be back to your site (when I have a moment or several).
    --Mike Adams
    http://reasonable-thought.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi again, Mike *g*

      So cool you stopped in!

      Three boys! Whew~ I do wish we had our cuddle bugs again. My boys are both taller than me now. My girl, well, not so much. But she's a spitfire!

      Delete
  9. Oh my goodness! You had me at white chocolate and then as I read on and realized the recipe also included cream cheese and strawberries, well, lets just say my taste buds went on overdrive! Both my children are adults now but oh my, how I miss those "rascally" years! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOVE your name! Did you happen to see *our* Bella in the sidebar? *g*

      I made this recipe this weekend for a family supper. It was GREAT! I might even go so far as to say it was, Awe-Some! *Big Smile*

      I admit. It's a catch-all expression that generally pops out of my mouth (or fingers) when words like *Cool*, or *Far Out* come to my mind. From the mouths of babes, in the year 2009 I think...

      "That is so gangster!"

      C'mon. Really?

      So glad you stopped in, Bella!

      PS: Lemon Cake?... yummmmmmmmm! Would love that recipe!

      Delete
  10. I did see Bella baby, and all the other gorgeous furry friends! Needless to say, I melted! I want to adopt all of them and bring them home so they can play with my little Roxy! :)By the way, I just posted the link to the recipe in my reply to Laura, one of my readers. You're welcome to drop by!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mrs. Harriet Miller ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding"): It's a bundt. A B-U-N-dT!

      Maria Portokalos : It's a cake! I know! Thank you! Thank you very, very much.

      (Whispers to Aunt Freida)
      "There's a hole in this cake!"


      This lemon cake recipe sounds SCRUMPTIOUS! So glad you shared the recipe!


      Roxy is a cutie! Lots of energy in that one, I bet! *g*

      Delete
  11. That looks yummy. I make a similar tart, but the base is cream cheese and powered sugar, but yours sounds so much more decadent. I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation of you write, the verse followed by the recipe. Fresh (like the tart and innovative. It makes waiting for the goodness a pleasure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Brenda!

      The white chocolate positively screams dessert! I am no cook, as is evidenced by the pizza pan I used in the above photo! I do not own a tart pan, nor would I recognize one if I saw one. *wink*

      Delete